For the sort of services we provide, the term ‘product chemistry’ is inadequte and rather rescritive! In fact, our job does not consist in simply identifying the right formula for the painting product, but rather in operating a much more comprehensive choice which can be summarised as follows:

• identification of aesthetic and performance requirements
• search for painting products and cycles known to be effective with a given product, so as to provide a ‘state of the art’ service
• identification and testing of possible solutions and services to be carried out with the technology available
• definition of a ‘painting cycle’ comprising also additional processing such as preliminary treatment
• selection of painting products and cycles with particular regard to environment-related problems.

As concerns the choice of product, the options available are:

• solvent paints
• lightfast paints
• water paints
• mono/bicomponent paints
• powder paints

whereas the cycles available are:

• Air drying
• Oven drying
• Low-temperature drying
• IR oven drying
• UV drying

To meet the aesthetic and performance targets set by the customer and also produce the least impact on the environment, it is also possible to recur to appropriate ‘mixed’ cycles. When choosing the optimal compromise, due consideration should be given to energy and processing costs. If necessary, we can think of modifying the product chemistry during this last phase of the setting up process.